REGION: Riverside County weighs medical pot ban

Reversing a move it initiated in September, Riverside is poised
to follow the lead of other Southern California counties that
recently banned shops that dispense marijuana for medicinal
purposes.

The change of heart, unveiled Nov. 30 in a Riverside County
supervisor's comments, prompted an outcry from proponents of
medical marijuana who staged a protest at last week's Board of
Supervisors meeting.

In September, the board voted unanimously to draft an ordinance
setting forth where, and in what manner, such shops may set up in
the county's unincorporated areas.

But on Tuesday, the board will take up a recommendation by
Supervisors John Benoit and Jeff Stone to halt those plans and,
instead, stick with a blanket dispensary ban it enacted in October
2006.

Benoit, who is a retired California Highway Patrol officer, said
supervisors should consider changing course after recent actions
elsewhere.

During the week of Thanksgiving, boards in Los Angeles and
Orange counties approved bans in their unincorporated
territories.

Also in recent months, San Bernardino County adopted a
moratorium on new dispensaries.

Benoit said he was concerned that, if Riverside County were to
allow dispensaries when other counties don't, the area could
receive more than its fair share of medical marijuana outlets.

"We may become the dumping ground for this type of activity," he
said earlier.

In a staff report that will be presented to the board Tuesday,
Benoit and Stone wrote: "As bans are created and maintained in
surrounding jurisdictions, dispensary operators will flock to the
county and the county will disproportionately bear the cost and
burden of regulation. Even the most well-crafted ordinance will
present opportunities for violation and the adverse secondary
effects of marijuana dispensaries are well documented."

Benoit and Stone suggested the "county's limited resources would
be best utilized enforcing the county's current ban."

Benoit also said Riverside would find itself more vulnerable to
legal challenges by staking out a different position than the other
counties.

In neighboring San Diego County, supervisors adopted a measure
that regulates dispensaries. However, that ordinance says they must
be 1,000 feet away from schools, churches, parks and homes, and
prospective operators are required to put up $20,000 to obtain
licenses.

Martin Victor of Temecula, a longtime advocate of medical
marijuana, said recently that he wasn't surprised at the U-turn
that could be around the corner.

"I've seen it coming," Victor said. "When it comes down to it,
this really had nothing to do, as they said, with Orange County and
Los Angeles County. This was a given, in my view. I knew they were
not actually going to do an ordinance to allow (medical marijuana
dispensaries)."

Victor disputed the idea that following Los Angeles and Orange
counties would shield Riverside County.

"I think it is just the opposite," he said. "They are more
likely to be sued."

Victor said groups have sued a large number of California cities
and counties for banning medical marijuana shops.

"There will be one against Riverside County if they go ahead and
ban," he said.